Ash receptacle assembly



June 13, 1939. J. VISSER 2,162,142

ASH RECEPTACLE- ASSEMBLY Filed April 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 13, 1939. J. vlssER.v

H RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY Filed April 24, 1957 2 Sheets-sheaf. 2 4

FE 571 (fa/ml V/issEB.

\wwvw Patented June 13, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ASH aacnr'rscm ASSEMBLY John Visser, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to F. L. Jacobs 00., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 24, 1931, Serial No. 138,766

, 12 Claims.

' This invention relates to ash receptacle assemblies and more particularly to a novel panel accessory assembly in which an ash receptacle or other accessory is mounted on a sub-panel disposed behind and at a substantial angle to the main panel, access to the sub-panel being had through a suitable aperture in the main panel, which is normally closed by a novel closure member.

Where an ash receptacle or other accessory is to be mounted on a panel such for example as on the dashboard of an automobile, designing engineers are generally in agreement that the ash receptacle or other accessory must be of such a character if they are exposed 'on the front of the panel as to present an appearance which is pleasing to the eye and which is essentially ornamental ln character; If concealed, it must be readily accessible through the panel or dashboard and must be readily removable. Where the accessory is in the form of an ash receptacle, it is important that the ash receptacle with its possible accumulated contents of ashes and other refuse be normally disposed out of sight and in a place where the ashes will not be blown around by casual draft in the car.

It has been found that a further highly desirable feature of an ash receptacle assembly is to dispose the ash receptacle in a concealed pocket or compartment such that the entire cigarette may be held inside of the concealed pocket or compartment while it is being rubbed or snuffed out. This prevents ashes from being blown around during the actual cigarette or cigar extinguishing operation. I

It has also been found desirable to provide a closure member for the aperture in the panel or dashboard through which access to the concealed pocket or compartment is had, which will lie in a completely concealed position when disposed in its openposition and which will form a substantially continuous surface with the outer surface of the panel or dashboard when disposed in its closed position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel ash receptacle assembly which incorporates in its structure the beneficial advantages set forth above.

A further objectof this invention is to provide a novel ash receptacle assembly which is economical to manufacture andv which is rugged and reliable in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel ash receptacle assembly in which the ash receptacle is mounted on a sub-panel disposed behind and at a substantial angle to the main panel through which access to the ash receptacle is to be had.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel ash receptacle assembly in which 5 the ash receptacle opens out into a concealed pocket or compartment within which the entire cigar or cigarette may be held during the time the lighted end thereof is being snuffed out, whereby ashes .and sparks will not be blown over '10 the individual by casual drafts and the like.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and means for supporting and moving a closure member for an apertured panel.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a novel means for mounting an apertured closing member which permits the aperture closing portion of the member to be disposed in a flush position with the front face 20 of the panel with which it is associated in closed position.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a novel combination of panel, sub-panel,.accessories, and closure member.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an ash receptacle assembly including an ash receptacle and a cigar lighter, in which the closure member is shown in a partly open position;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 3; 40

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the ash receptacle assembly taken along .the line III-HI of Figure 2; I

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the ash receptacle assembly taken along the line IV--IV of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but shows the aperture-closure member in its open position.

The general outer appearance of the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure l and includes in general a panel Ill which has an aperture l i therein that affords access to an ash receptacle l2 and a cigar lighter I3, carried on a sub-panel or supporting flange I4. In order to enhance the general appearance of the constructhe panel ll.

Referring next to 2 the structural details of the ash receptacle and cigar lighter assembly will bedescribed. Secured t0 the rear face of panel. ll in any suitable manner such as by welding or the like is a structural member I. of metallic sheet material. Member It includes an upper horizontal portion l1 and a pair of side portions II which are bent down to form supporting "arms for the aperture-closing member ll. Struck down from the forward central portion oi horizontal portion ll of member H is an integral liflngue it, the lower end ,of

which is bent forwardly at an angle of approximately 45 to form the sub-panel ll. To increase the rigidity of the ash receptacle assembly as. a whole and to'provide a. convenient 1ip to which the structural vmember l8 may be welded or otherwise suitably secured portions of panel ll along the upper side edges of aperture II are bent inwardly to form lips 20. The forward edges of the side portion ll ,of central member I! are-bent outwardly as at 2l-in amanner to permit them tobe nested in the corners formed by the lips 2lalong the side edges of aperture II and the front face of panelflll.

- The ash receptacle I2 is conveniently suspended from sub-panel 14 by providing an opening 22 in thelatter having a configuration similar to the cross-sectional configuration of the ash receptacle l2 and dimensioned to permit the ash receptacle body to snugly pass therethrough. In cutting the opening 22 in sub-panel l4, portions of the stock. are leftto provide a plurality of integral downwardly extending tongues 22 which areadapted to. frictionallv engage the side walls of the ash receptacle l2 and snuglyhold the same in place.

The ash receptacle l2 may, of coursejassume any of a wide variety of forms, and is shown in the drawings as being a substantially rectangular metal box having curled outer edges 24. These curled outer edges 24 prevent the ash receptacle l2 from passing clear through opening 22 in sub-panel ll due to their engagement with the opening defining edge portions of sub-panel l4.

A cigar or cigarette lighter I3 is illustrated in the drawings as being disposed on sub-panel l4 alongside of the ash receptacle l2. The particular form of the cigar lighter employed is immaterial to the carrying out of the teachings of the I present invention and for that reason the cigar lighter is only illustrated generally. As shown the cigar lighter II is of the electrical heater type, the heater coil of which is adapted to be energized when the body part 25 is depressed in its cylindrical casing 28. After the heater coil (not shown), which is mounted on the end of thebody part 2! of cigar lighter I2, is raised to a sufllciently high temperature, the cylindrical body 25 is removed from casing 26 and the heater (not shown) is applied to the end of the cigar or cigarette which is to be lighted. The energizing circuit for the device includes an electric conductor 21 which is connected to' an insulated terminal is in any suitablemannerJ A grounded return is used rather than a second insulated 3 conductor.

The cover ii, which is arranged to close aperture ll when the ash receptacle l2 and them".

and cigarette lighter it are not in use is formed described,;'an extraordinarily effective mounting with a pair of integral rearwardly extending'arms 29. By mounting arms 29 on side portions ll of v member It .in the. mannenwhich will now be m,

for the ver I5 is obtained. Remembering ,thatj it is desired to move the cover It into'a flush position with'the front face of panel II in its closed position and intoa concealed position behind panel II in its open position, means are provided whichiwill permit not only rotational movement of cover l5 but also translatory movement thereof when the cover is opposite aperture ll. 29 are slotted as at 20 near their rear ends, the

In order to permit such movement, the arms longitudinal axis of the slots being substantially of the cover. v

A supporting rod 3.]. which is secured to side portions It extends through slots III. This sup-- porting rod II is so spaced from the apertured portion of panel. l0 that when itv lies in the forward ends of slotslll the cover It is spaced he'- hind the plane of the aperture Ii in panel l0 while when it is disposed in the rear end of slots 20 the cover l5 may-snugly fit into aperture ll into a flush position with the front face of panel I0.

In order to confine the angular and Manilatory movement of cover it to a predetermined course, arcuate guide slots 22 are provided at intermediatepoints on arms 29 in the manner shown in the drawings. A guide rod'33 carried by side portions II extends through the guide slots perpendicular. to the general plane of the surface 32. As maybe seen best in Figure 5 of the drawings. the lower end of the guide slots 82 is-cut away to theleft in the direction of the supporting rod 3|." It will thus be understoodthat the main arcuate portion of the guide slots 32 confine the arms 29 of cover ii to true angular movement as the slotted portion of the arms 29 are when the arms arrive at an angular position which places the guide rod 33 opposite that portion of the guide slot which is cut rearwardly in the direction of the supporting rod 3|, outward or translatory movement of the arms 29 is permitted.

In order that the cover Ii will snap into its flush position whenever it is moved to a position opposite aperture I'l, biasing springs 34 are moved along over the guide rod 33. However,-

secured to'the extreme ends of arms 29 with their intermediate portions tensioned over supporting rod II. It willthus be understood that the arms 29 and cover ii are constantly biased in an outward direction (1. e. to the right as position is shown in the full lines in Figure 4.

Iflaccess to ash receptacle l2 or to cigar or cigarette lighter i3 is desired, pressure is applied with the thumb or fingers to the depressed pertion 35 of cover Ii in an inward direction. The cover l and its arms 29 are thereby forced to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4. Downward pressure on the indented portion 35 causes the arms 29 of cover I5 to rotate about supporting rod 3|, the rod 3| being disposed now in the forward end of slots 30. As the arms 29 move downwardly, the guide rod 33 rides upwardly in slot 32. This rotational movement ofrarms 29 about supporting rod 2| continues until guide rod 33 abuts the upper end of guide slots 32. Arms 29 and cover I 5 will then be in the position shown in Figure 5.

Convenient access to ash receptacle I2 and cigar and cigarette lighter I3 may now be had through aperture II in panel I0. It is to be noted that due to the fact that sub-panel I l is disposed at a substantial angle to the front face of panel Ill that it forms a pocket 36 within which it is necessary to insert the cigarette or cigar before it is snuffed out and deposited in ash receptacle I2. Since pocket 36 is not iniiuenced by drafts circulating in front and about panel I0, it is obvious that an extraordinarily effective arrangement is provided for receiving and depositing ashes and one in which ashes will not be blown over the person using the equipment by casual draft or the like.

To close aperture II, it is simply necessary to push upwardly on the depressed portion 35 and cover l5 thereby causing counterclockwise rotation of arms 29 as viewed in Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings. As'cover I5 reaches a point opposite aperture II, biasing springs 34 will cause the cover to snap to a closed and flush position with panel I 0. It will, of course, be understood that this translatory movement caused by biasing springs 36 is effectedby reason of the fact that the rearwardly cut-out portions of guide slots 32 are at that time opposite guide rod 33.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. With an apertured panel, an ash receptacle assembly comprising a supporting flange disposed behind said panel at an oblique angle thereto to form a concealed pocket accessible through an aperture in said panel, an ash receptacle extending downwardly from said flange and detachably suspended therefrom, said receptacle having an opening accessible from said pocket, and a cover having supporting means thereon to accommodate movement into and out of said aperture.

2. In combination with a panel having an aperture therein, a-sub-panel disposed behind said panel at an oblique angle thereto and opposite said aperture, said panel and said sub-panel forming a compartment behind said panel and accessible through said aperture, and a disappearing cover arranged to be moved into position between said panel and said subpanel and mounted for movement into and out of said aperture, the outer surface of said cover forming substantially a continuous surface with the outer surface of said panel in its apertured closing position, rearwardly extending supporting arms 3. The combination with a substantially vertically disposed panel of an ash receptacle assembly comprising a supporting shelf secured to said panel and extending rearwardly therefrom, said shell having an integral supporting flange extendingflrst downwardly and then forwardly and downwardly and terminating in close proximity to said panel, an ash receptacle extending through saidflange and supported thereby, said panel being apertured to permit access to said receptacle, and a disappearing cover mounted for movement. into and out of said aperture.

4. with a substantially vertically disposed panel having an aperture therein, an accessory assembly comprising a supporting frame, a subpanel for accessories connected to said frame at a substantial angle to the plane of said aperture, accessories mounted on said sub-panel, and a cover for said aperture pivotally mounted to said frame at a point to the rear of said subpanel.

5. With a substantially vertically disposed panel having an aperture therein, an accessory assembly comprising a supporting frame, a subpanel for accessories connected to said frame at a substantial angle to the plane of said aperture, accessories mounted on said sub-panel, a cover for said aperture pivotally mounted on said frame at a point to the rear of said sub-panel, and means for shifting the pivot point of said cover forwardly when said cover is opposite said aperture.

6. With a substantially vertically disposed panel having an aperture therein, an accessory assembly comprising a supporting frame, a subpanel for accessories connected to said frame at a substantial angle to the plane of said aperture, accessories mounted on said sub-panel, a cover for said aperture pivotally mounted on said frame at a point to the rear of said sub-panel and means for moving said cover into said aperture in a flush position with the front face of said panel.

'7. With a substantially vertically disposed panel having an aperture therein, an accessory assembly comprising a supporting frame, a sub-panel for accessories connected to said frame at a substantial angle to the plane of said aperture,'accessories mounted on said sub-panel, a cover for said aperture pivotally mounted on said frame at a point to the rear of said sub-panel, and resilient means for biasing said cover in a closed flush position with said panel.

8. With a substantially vertically disposed panel having an aperture therein, an accessory assembly comprising a supporting frame, a subpanel for said accessories connected to said frame at a substantial angle to the plane of said aperture, accessories mounted on said sub-panel, a cover for said aperture, and rearwardly projecting supporting arms on said cover extending about opposite ends of said sub-panel into pivotal engagement with said frame.

9. With a panel having an aperture therein, 2

an accessory assembly comprising a-supporting member of sheet material secured substantially perpendicularly to said panel above said aperture, said member having a tongue struck downwardly therefrom forming an inclined sub-panel to the rear of said aperture, said sub-panel being adapted to have accessories mounted thereon, and a cover for said aperture movably mounted on said supporting member.

10. With a panel having an aperture therein, an accessory assembly comprising a supporting member of-sheet material secured substantially perpendicularly to said panel above said aperture, said member having a tongue struck downwardly thereirom iorming an inclined sub-panel to the rear of said aperture, said sub-panel'being adapted to have accessories mounted thereon, the side edge portions of said member being bent downwardly, and a cover for said aperture having a pair of supporting arms extending alongside oi,

said side portions of said member into pivotal engagement therewith.

11. With a panel having an aperture therein, an accessory assembly comprising a supporting member of sheet'material secured substantially perpendicularly to said panel above said aperture, said member having a tongue struck downwardly therefrom forming an inclined sub-panel to the rear of said aperture, said sub-panel being adapted to have accessories mounted thereon, a. cover having a pair of supporting arms mounted .ior angular and translatory movement. on said supporting member, said supporting arms being arcuately slotted, and cam means on said edge angular and translatory movement on said supporting member, and cam meanscooperable with said side portion on said supporting arms for movement for open and intermediate positions of said cover and to translatory movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of said aperture wheirsaid cover is substantially directly opposite said aperture.

- 7 JOHN VISSER.

limiting the movement of said cover to angular 

